I’ve been asked several questions that have challenged my beliefs about what a Year Off actually is. In this blog post, I want to dispel some of the common assumptions that many people have about a Year Off.
What are the main assumptions I’m trying to dispel? That it’s only for young single people with no kids. That travel is required. And that it has to be for one year. I’ve had those assumptions because that was my path. But after reading about and extensively researching career breaks, I’ve found these assumptions to be false.
Check out the questions below and my answers to see if you have held these assumptions. Then I challenge you to think about your own situation and come up with your own ideas for a Year Off.
1. Is a Year Off only for young professionals?
Absolutely not.
I believe there are added benefits to taking a Year Off when you’re younger. But a Year Off is for anyone who wants to remove themselves from the day-to-day rat race and create the free time they’ve always wanted to pursue greater dreams and goals of theirs, no matter what age.
Whether you’re in your 20s or 50s, an extended career break would benefit you in a number of ways. You’ll have the free time to do more of what you love doing, not what you’re required to do. The day-to-day craziness will disappear, and you’ll have the opportunity to evaluate your priorities and reorient your life’s direction.
You can accomplish this at any age.
2. Is a Year Off only for people with a professional degree?
You do not need a professional degree to take a Year Off. Anyone in any profession can do it. Some professions pay better, allowing you to save the money needed quicker and to reach your Year Off Age sooner. But if you live well below your means for an extended time, anyone can get out of debt and save the money needed for a Year Off.
There are professions that are easier to walk away from for a year. A leave of absence might be more of a possibility based on your job or the company you work for. Other jobs may require you to completely quit.
I met people from all different backgrounds while I was traveling for a year. There was no common theme to their professional background or the degrees they carried.
3. Is a Year Off only for people who make a lot of money or inherited a lot of money?
You don’t need a large paycheck every two weeks to make a Year Off happen. Once again, the more money you make, the sooner you can take a Year Off. The key factor is creating a large difference between the amount of money you bring home every month and the amount of money going out towards expenses. The greater the difference, no matter how much money you make, the sooner you’ll have the money for a Year Off.
Keep in mind, it’s possible to increase your paycheck in your current job. Try to advance as far as you can. Ask for a raise. Pick up extra shifts. Be the best employee your company has. All these things increase your likelihood of making more money. Get a second job or a side hustle to make even more money on top of your main job. Don’t let your income keep you from your goal of a Year Off.
3. Can a Year Off be more or less than a full year?
A Year Off can be any length of time. Maybe just a few extra hours per week that you set aside to pursue some greater dreams or passions of yours. Maybe you haven’t had a vacation in years so a Year Off would be just a one week trip. No matter the length, it’s important to set aside more time to do more of what you love doing, not more of what you’re required to do.
I met people during my Year Off from all different walks of life who were taking anywhere from just a few weeks off to multiple years off. If only 6 weeks is possible for you, then fine! Can you make 3 months or 6 months happen? Great! No matter how long you’re Year Off is, remember that the key is to make it happen.
I do believe that the longer you remove yourself from the craziness of life, the more benefit you’ll see. It’s a gradual unwinding that occurs, not something that happens overnight. So the longer you have for that process to happen, the more you’ll accomplish and the more refreshed you’ll feel afterwards.
4. Can I take a Year Off if I have kids?
I recently read an interesting book called On the Road with Kids by John Ahern. It’s about a man, his wife, and 2 kids traveling around Europe for a whole year in an RV. It made me think, if they can pull that off with 2 kids, then it’s certainly possible for other families to as well.
There are additional things to consider when taking a Year Off with kids. You will have increased costs. Travel would be more difficult (but not impossible). And you would have to balance the time away with your kids’ educational needs.
But think about the additional time you would have with your children and the additional memories you could make. Even if all you do during your Year Off with kids is stay home, think about how much more time you could spend with them. You could pick them up from school every day, go hiking with them in a park, or get ice cream once a week. You can get more involved in their lives when you have the free time for it.
5. Is long-term travel required for a Year Off?
Nope. You can pursue any dreams during your Year Off. Maybe that means going back to school or pursuing higher education. You can learn to play an instrument and start a band. You can spend more time with your kids, friends, and family. Basically, you can do whatever the hell you want.
It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re pursuing life-long interests and trying to better yourself and the lives of others. Don’t just sit around and accomplish nothing during your time away. Do something to make your life better both now and in the future.
Travel and outdoor adventure was my main Year Off dream, so that’s what I did the most. I think travel is a great tool to learn more about yourself and gain a broader perspective on the world and your life as a whole. That’s why I highly recommend travel during a Year Off. But don’t assume that it’s necessary.
6. Do I really need $40,000 for the whole year?
$40,000 will give you one heck of a year. But it’s certainly not necessary. You can accomplish a lot with much less money, depending on what your areas of interest are. Travel, for example, can be done much cheaper. Read the book “How to Travel the World on $50 a Day” by Matt Kepnes to learn how.
You need the money to cover your basic needs of food, water, and shelter. And there are other things that you arguably need, like travel insurance and vaccines. But all the other money you’re able to save is for you and the pursuit of your dreams. If your dreams cost money, then the more you have, the better.
7. Do I really need to be debt free before my Year Off?
I don’t think it’s completely necessary, but it’s definitely advisable to have no debt before a Year Off. Credit card and other high interest debt is the worst so at least get rid of that before leaving your job. If you have student loan debt, then you can save up the extra money needed to cover the monthly payments while you’re gone. If you have mortgage debt, you can rent your house out or once again, save up the money to cover the monthly mortgage payments.
The main thing to consider is when you owe people money, they expect those payments on time. And if something goes seriously wrong (highly unlikely) during your Year Off, then conceivably, you could not make the payments. Then the people you owe will get pissed, and they’ll come after you. And you might have to declare bankruptcy.
While I think that scenario is highly unlikely, it’s still nice to remove that worry from your mind and to avoid the main health and financial risks of a Year Off.
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